Photo by Andrew James Ferris

The Future of Democracy

Wednesday, August 30, 2017, 6:00 PM

Democracy first emerged in Ancient Athens when a war among aristocrats reached a point of desperation. Power ended up in the hands of the people, and centuries of prosperity followed. There's more to that story, but many of us in New York, and around the world today find ourselves asking, "What is the future of our democracy?"

This TEDxGramercy Salon will feature a screened TED Talk, one live speaker, and copious amounts of audience engagement.

We Will Be Hosted By Rise New York

43 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10010

Rise New York is a global community of startups and corporates creating the future of commerce and fintech by helping startups and entrepreneurs connect, co-create, and scale innovation. In partnership with Barclays, we listen, nurture and oxygenate through our international network of Rise hubs. Rise New York also houses a world-class event space and is home to the U.S. cohort of the Barclays Accelerator, powered by Techstars.

Our TEDx Speaker Will Be Athena Diaconis

Athena is a researcher by training (and nature) who has a knack for deconstructing human behavior. Her interests in the last few years have gravitated toward democracy. She is our live speaker, and she will take us on an intellectual journey into the past and future of our democracy.

What's Next in the Democratic Experiment?

Democracy has never been an easy experiment. It requires fastidious work, and constant vigilance to ensure its perpetuity. On the right, left, and middle, many feel our country has never been more divided. But is it possible that we’re on the brink of something far greater than we realize? Time will tell which way the wind goes, but never before have we had such a capacity to create a true, rich, multicultural democracy. From technology, to consciousness shifts, the U.S. has the capacity to become a beacon of political equality. Join us for an evening exploring the history of the phenomena known as democracy, unpacking truths of our humanity and our society, and hopefully, learning how to avoid turning our country’s political fate into the Handmaid’s Tale.